Track structure.



H. L. BBTTEN. TRACK STRUCTURE. APPLICATION TILED IBB. 26,1914. 4

Patented June 23, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

- a; 30 W/Lf/{ J H. L. BETTEN. TRACK. STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.26,1914. 7 1,101,162. Patented June 23, 191 1 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lmwuto H. L. B ETTEN. I TRACK STRUCTURE,

APPLICATION FILED IBB. 26,1914.

1,101,162. Patented'June 23, 1914s sauna-sum a.

ammutoz HENRY L. IBETTEN, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

TRACK STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented June 23, 1914.

Application filed February 26, 1914. Serial No. 821,238.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. BETTEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alameda, in the county of'Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track Structures, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in track structures and has relation more particularly to a rail joint comprised therein and a supporting structure for such joint; and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the meeting ends of the rails included in such structure are so connected one wi h the other as to assure a positive joint and having novel and improved means whereby an effective truss is provided for supporting and reinforcing such joint.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved track structure whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for, use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of a portion of a track structure constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially central of' Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view in top plan of a base plate or chair comprised in the present embodiment of my invention; Fig. 5 isa fragmentary view in top plan of a truss section illustrating a somewhat modified form; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken through an extension of a rail, illustrating a further ern bodiment of my invention; and Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the web of assembled meeting ends of rails,

illustrating a further embodiment of my in-.'

vention; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the hnc 8--8 of Fig. 7; Flg. 9 is an enlarged view in perspective, detached, of a Wedge included in the embodiment of my invention disclosed in Figs. 7 and 8; and Fig. 10 is a fragmentary transverse section taken through a rail and truss, illustrating a still further embodiment of my invention.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 and 2 denote adjacent rails having their meeting ends provided with extensions 3 and l, respectively, adapted, when assembled, to overlie in order to afiord a scarf joint or connection and, as herein disclosed, the extension 3 of the rail 1 includes the head or tread of the rail and the lateral half of the Web and one of the base flanges, as is believed to be clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings; and it is to be observed that in order that such extension, or more particularly the tread portion thereof, may have the requisite strength the adjacent web portion 5 of the rail is materially thickened at 7 and it will also be observed that the flanges 6 of the rails are also thickened. The inner face of the extension 3, or more particularly the web portion thereof, is provided in close proximity to the base thereof with the elongated shoulder or tongue 7 extending entirely therealong and of a thiclc ness greater than the thickness of the adj acent portion of the web 5, while the under surface of the head or tread portion 8 of the extension 3 is provided with the recess or groove 9 substantially semi-circular in cross section which is adapted to receive the rounded upper'edge 10 of the extension 4: of the rail 2, such extension being herein shown as including the web portion 11 and the base flanges 12, such web portion and fl-anges'being produced in a manner somewhat similar to what has been set forth relative to the extension 3 except that in lieu of the shoulder or tongue 7, the inner or opposed face of theextension 4: is provided with an elongated recess or channel adapted to snugly accommodate the shoulder or tongue 7, as is believed to be selfevident.

In assembling the rails, it will be readily perceived that the rail 1, or more particularly the extension 3 thereof, occupies the inside position of the track structure and the interlocking or jointure is effected b, tipping the inner rail at an angle of about thirty degrees, hooking it over the ends on the adjoining rail and then allowing rail 1 to drop into a vertical position whereby it will be seen that the grooves and shoulders of. The sections Hand herein disclosed, is-a truss structure herein disclosed'as composed of two sections 12 and 14 of predetermined length and positioned beneath the rail joint and extending a predetermined distance beyond each side there- 14 are substantially duplicates and are adapted to overlie the base flanges and have the vertical extensions 15 adapted to'engage with the under surfaces of the heads of the rails, the intermediate portions of such extensions 15 having their inner faces reduced in thicknessso that a certain degree of elasticity will be afforded. The sections 12 and 14 of the truss structure are of such a length as to project above the adjacent ties 16 of the road bed and each of such sections is provided substantially intermediate its length and at its inner marginal portion with the depending plates 17 and 18 of a length substantially equal to the-distance-between the adjacent ties whereby it will be readily perceived that creeping of such truss structure is effectively prevented.

As herein illustrated, the lower marginal portion of the plate 17 is flexed to afford a substantially semi-circular socket 19 in which is adapted to be accommodated the rounded lower edge, as indicated at 20, of the adjacent or coacting plate 18. In assembling the truss sections, it is thought to be obvious that the depending plates 17 and 18 are connected at an angle of about fortyfive degrees whereupon .brought together over the thickened flanges of the rails and their extensions which have been ground to the proper radius to accommodate the sweep of such truss sections. As the sections of the truss structure are brought together, the longitudinally directed shoulder 21 on theplate 12 engages within the longitudinally disposed socket or groove 22 formed in the coacting plate 18 whereby an effective means is provided to guard against relative vertical movement .of the sections 12 and 14. After the sections 12 and 14 have been properly -positioned, the base plates or chairs 23 are driven over the ends of the assembled truss sections until the inner ends of such chairs or base plates contact with the plates 17 and 18 whereupon such plates or chairs are offectively engaged with the ties 16 by suitable spikes 24 or the like directed through the laterally disposed perforate extensions 25 carried by the base plates or chairs 23. As herein disclosed, each of the plates 23 is formed on a slight taper forv reasons which are believed to beself -evident and after the sections are assembled. After this 28 of the sections 12 and 14, as at 29, the po Y sition of such weakened portions assuring the vertical portions 15 to be forced in close contact with the webs with to spring inward. Projecting laterally fromthe thickened webs of the rails 1 and 2 are the studs 30 adapted to project through the slots 31 cut in the vertical extensions 15 of the truss sections. I This interlocking;

arrangement, thus afforded, while allowing a liberal separation of the rails through the mediumof contraction, effectively guards against unusual separation especially on gradesor on shifting ground. .It is to beobserved that the plates 17 and 18 of the truss sections 12 and 14 extend beyond the ends of the assembled rails 1 and 2 proper 'so as to take the vertical strain at the joint where the rail ends meet. j

While I have hereinbefore set forth that the flanges of the rails may be rounded on a radius to permit the proper assemblageof the truss sections 12 and 14,1 wish to state that in lieu of this I findthat I can with equal advantage employ a shoulder or extension 3, as indicated in Fig. 6, to form resting points for the .under sides of the inner points of the truss and, if desired, a removable shim 33 may be inserted between the flanges of the rails and the adjoining undersurfaces of the truss sections.

In the embodiment of my invention disclosed in Figs. 7'to 9- inclusive, the meeting ends ofvthe rails l and 2 are the same as has been set forth relative to the rails l and '2, while-the truss member employed in connection therewith comprises the base plate or chair 34 halving depending, therefrom at substantially its center and ,in egrally pro 35, while one longitudinal edge of such base plate or chair '34 is rolled, as indicated at 36, to engage over the adjacent flanges of the rails l and 2,'.which engagement constitutes the initial positioning. of the base plate or chair 34 when engagement of the rolled 'portion 36 with rails, the base plate or chair 34 is, swung upwardly so that its flat surface occupies substantially a horizontal position with the under surface of the rail flanges resting the parts are being i- 125 the flanges ofthe a tendency duced therewith the elongated web or flange I solidly thereon. The opposite longitudinal marginal portion of the base plate or chair is provided with-the upstanding flange 37 disposed outwardly on a slight flare so as to serve as a means for forcing or wedging the lower connectingportions of the meeting ends of the rails 1 .and 2* into close union. In order to aflord a means whereby the base plate or chair 34 may be effectively maintained in operative engagement with the rails, I find it of advantage to slit the flange 37, as indicated'at' 38, to afli'ord the .tongues 39 adapted to be forced or clenched over the upper surface of the adjacent rail as is believed to be clearly shown in Figs.

7 and 8. In order to lock or maintain such wedge in operative position, I have outwardly directed from the flange 37 in close proximity to each of the openings 41 the plate 42 having its outer longitudinal edge portion formed into a shoulder 43 with which the outer end of the wedge 40 is adapted to contact and thus be held against movement from operative position. I also find it of advantage to, in order to further assure the maintenance of the wedge in operative position,'provide the upper surface of the wedge with the transverse shoulder 44 extending entirely thereacross and which is adapted, owing to the resiliency or expansive qualities of the wedge, to interlock with that portion of the inner face of the flange 37 above the slot 41 therein. Projecting laterally from that side of the base or chair 34 having its marginal portions rounded are the perforated extensions or tongues 45 through which suitable spikes are adapted to be directed whereby the base.

plate or chair 34 may be suitably anchored 'to the ties comprised in the track structure,

and in order that the opposite portion of such base plate or c hairmay be similarly secured to the ties, I have the inner end of each of the plates 42 provided with the inwardly directed perforated extensions 46 through which the conventional spikes are adapted to be passed.

In the embodiment of my invention illus trated in Fig. 10, the parts are substantially identical with those illustrated inthe first embodiment of my invention except that I also find it of advantage to em a groove,

the sections 12? and 14 engage only the" marginal portions of the flanges 12 of the rails. 1

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a track structure constructed in acccordance with an embodiment of my" invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which the meeting ends of the rails may be interlocked or joined and of the strength possessed by such joint and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not-wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shownv in carrying out my invention in practice.

I claim:

1. A track structure including rails-having their meeting ends in interlocking engagement, a truss structure for such interlocking ends including substantially complementary sections in engagement with the flanges of the rails and abutting the undersurface of the heads thereof, such sections at a point below the joint proper being provided with depending plates, one of such plates having its lower marginal portion formed to afford a socket to accommodate the lowermarginal portion of the adjacent plate, one of such plates being provided with a groove, and a tongue formed on the adjacent plate adapted to project within the groove of the first mentioned plate when the truss sections are assembled.

2. A track structure including rails having their meeting ends in interlocking engagement, a truss structure for such interlocking ends including substantially complementary sections in engagement with the flanges of the rails and abutting the under surface of the heads thereof, such sections at a point below the joint proper being provided with depending plates, one of such plates having its lower marginal portion formed to afford a socket to accommodate the lower marginal portion of the adjacent plate, one of such plates being provided with a tongue formed on the adjacent plate adapted to project within the groove of the first mentioned plate when the truss sections are assembled, and means for maintainadapted to be secured to the ties of the track structure.

3. A track structure including rails having their meeting endsin interlocking engagement, a truss structure for such interlocking. ends including substantially complementary sections in engagement with the flanges of the rails and abutting the under mg the truss sections in assembled relation surface of the heads thereof, such sections at a point below the vided with depending plates, one 0 such plates havin its .lower marginal portion formed to a 0rd a socket to accommodate the lower marginal portion of the adjacent plate, one of such plates being provided with a groove, and a tongue formed on the adjacent plate adapted to project within the grooveqof the first mentioned plate when the truss sections are assembled, the engagement of the lower marginal portions of the plates of the truss structure serving as a fulcrum whereby the truss sections may be operatively engaged with the rails.

4. A track structure includin rails having their meeting ends in interlocking engagement, a truss structure for such interlockingends including substantially complementary sections in engagement with the joint proper bein pro-' flanges of the rails, such sections -at a point below the joint proper being provided with interlocking depending plates, and means for maintaining the truss sections in assembled relation adaptedto' be secured to the ties of the rail structure.

5. A track structure including rails having their meeting ends in interlocking engagement, and a truss structure for s ich meeting ends including a base plate provided with a depending web, and wedging means coacting with the base plate and the rails for clamping the base plate in operative position,

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix myv signature in the presence of two witnesses. HENRY L. BETTEN. Witnesses:

W. J. Rooms, ETHEL E. BETTEN. 

